A view of Australia's detention of asylum seekers and a search for an antidote to the dictum "might makes right"

Monday, September 25, 2006

Greens move to grant Bridging Visa E

Australian Greens Senator Kerry Nettle will move an amendment on Wednesday to the Migration Act to allow long-term bridging visa holders to work after 28 days. Currently many asylum seekers living in the community spend many months or years unable to work and reliant on charity to survive.

"I hope the Senate will support this sensible amendment that was recommended by the recent Senate Inquiry into the Migration Act,” said Senator Nettle.

“It is common sense that people living in the community on bridging visas for an extended time should be able to work to support themselves and their family,” said Senator Nettle.

“There were 7,927 BVE holders in 2005 and some asylum seekers have been on a bridging visa E for many years."